Sunday, November 30, 2025

Goju Kicking by Higaonna Morio

Higaonna Sensei kicking technique

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoUXVJDS6aM

Tai Sabaki. The foundation of evasions

The tai-sabaki [tǐ bāki], literally movement (sabaki) of the body (tai), is the displacement of the body out of the line of attack, is therefore the first response element to override the effectiveness of the attack first and in turn the imbalance of the aggressor.

As a first point is the exit of the line of attack, the main foundation for in the first instant counteracting aggression and acquiring an advantageous position over the attack, this security position will allow the counterattack to require less effort and more effective.

The second aspect is that the ′′ disappearance ′′ of the attacker's target at the moment of impact causes an imbalance by emptiness, therefore, weakening the attack and creating imbalance in the attacker. Especially if when performing the tai sabaki we managed to find the so called ′′ dead angle ′′ or shikaku. This dead angle is the place where the aggressor has no chance of directly fighting back.

This imbalance occurs not only on a physical level, but also on a psychic level, because it creates in the attacker's mind a surprise that will have to process which will take those tenths of second vital to neutralize it.

Tai-Sabaki must be fast, stable and accurate. Running a perfect Tai-Sabaki we'll have more time for problem solving. This entails a lot of grassroots work to get to intuit the moment, to be as fast as possible and maintain a position stable enough to perform the counterattack.

Attending the maximum of the jujutsu-derived arts, give in first and then win, combined with those that carry the aiki concept, if you pull enter, if you push pivot, tai-sabaki becomes the fundamental tool to carry out those principles.

Tai-Sabaki is not used only as a method of elusive, it is used in the execution of many projections and also in luxations, strangulations, controls... says J. Kano ′′ tai-sabaki control is the key to optimal execution of projection techniques ". Also Kyuzo Mifune asserted that ′′ tai sabaki is the first and final stage in Judo practice ". R. Hernaez for his part said that ′′ if Tai Jitsu weren't called that it would definitely be called Tai Sabaki Jitsu ". With these words they suggest the importance of elusive. Distance (mai) and timing are essential for your proper execution.

In Tai-Sabaki there are two very important principles

Irimi: It's a linear displacement going into the attack, slightly out of its line, taking the initiative. It involves getting into the attack. It's hard to assimilate because the natural instinct of defense is to go back, but for the attacker it's a surprise because it's not expected either.

Tenkan: It's a circular shift, a 180 o turn, which aims to redirect and / or absorb the attack. It's a quick turn to the opponent's dead angle that puts you in an advantageous position for the answer. The twist itself allows it to merge with the attack and translate the opponent's own attack movement into the defender's power generator.

According to Taoist theory we could say Irimi would be the Yang, the action and Tenkan the Yin, the passive.

According to where we move, four new concepts appear to us

Omote: by the attacker front
Ura: Behind the attacker
Uchi: inside the attack
Soto: out of attack

Top Tai-Sabaki according to our displacement

Soto / Uchi Nagashi: Back
Soto / Uchi Hiraki: Lateral
Soto / Uchi Irimi: Go ahead
Soto / Uchi Tenkai: Circular
O Soto / O Uchi Tenkai: Great Circular

1900 French Jujitsu

The Tomari Passai and Tukumine No Kon

Kata TOMARI PASSAI (Old style) - Okinawa Shorinjiryu

Demonstration of the kata TOMARI PASSAI (Okinawa Shorinji-ryu),

in front of the late Nakazato Joen sensei

at the Okinawa World Karatedo Tournament 2009, Budokan, Okinawa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap5JRbz5Hew

This is likely how Tatsuo learned it from Kyan.

He used to teach this at one time, later dropped.

However you can see how some of the opening

Was an influence in his own SunNuSu kata.

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沖繩古武道 • Hitoshi Oyakawa –

Tokumine No Kon –

Okinawa Kobudo Joen Nakazato Lineag

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Llnsg_oVWY

Sherman on how to always strike into an attackers arm.

Reviewing my notes I made in 2005 following Sherman Harrill’s death and were then placed in my Sherm-Pedia, I always found the principles that Sherman shared, the most important thing I learned from him. My notes are 15 pages long. This is one of the principles that I understood.

1. “You can always Punch Your Own Palm” june 10, 1995.

Working on Wansu applications, Harrill Sensei made a point, without looking you can always punch your own palm. He then used this principle to strike into an arm, where you only had to place your hand on the other side, and 100% of the time you’d strike the arm, aiming for the hand……

The 10 years when I attended Sherman’s clinics continually I was seeing kata applications that were only shared once. This is an example of how Sherman shared.

Sherman arm striking – June 1995

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6gpW6URhHI